Summer Fun 2016

Fun summer days at the zoo

Daddy's Race

Nate participated in a triathalon for the first time ever.  It was very exciting!  He had to prepare by practicing swimming, biking, and running.  Running is easy for him, cycling is a bit newer, and swimming has always been more difficult.  So he trained hard in the early mornings to prepare for this race.  He also enjoyed shopping for the right gear and equipment for this type of athletic event.  

On Race Day,  Nate left early to prepare.  The kids and I arrived to see him transition from Biking to Running.  He didn't expect us there, so it was exciting for the kids and fun for him to have a large fan base.  Then we went to the finish line to wait for him to finish.  The kids ran after him and acted like they were racing too.  He did a great job!  He beat many of his friends that were much younger than him.  It was a learning experience for next time, and next time I plan to do it with him!  Go Nate!

Afterward, we celebrated  by going out to a huge yummy breakfast as a family.  It was a great time!

Camping with Cousins

Jaxton & Cooper got invited to go camping with the Owen family with Melissa John & Jace.  Their family goes to Michigan every year with friends to Lake Michigan to swim, kayak, pick cherries, and play in the water.  They were kind to offer to bring Jaxton, Cooper, and cousin Asher with them this year.  Needless to say, the boys had a blast. They did so many fun things; we were all so jealous of them!  They got to try new things, like tubing and standing on a paddle board.  Super fun stuff.  Jaxton found the most perfect cherry in the cherry tree orchard.  They brought home lots of cherries for us to eat.  Yum yum!  Great memories with great family!

Happy Birthday Nathan!!!

Happy Birthday Little Nathan!!  Here are some fun things about Nathan at 2 years old:

1.  He is obsessed with his Daddy.  It is over the top obsession.  He will have nothing to do with anyone if Daddy is around, including with Mom.  If Daddy is around, then Mommy may as well be a complete stranger because he just wants Dad.  He loves Daddy's car and can point it out or one like it in any parking lot.  He loves to ride in Daddy's car.  He loves to be by Daddy every moment that is possible.  It is very very sweet, but overwhelming at times for Nate.  But someday, Nate will remember this and smile.

2.  Nathan loves to wear baseball caps.  None of our other kids have ever had a desire to keep a hat on.  But Nathan is always making sure he's got his hat, since Daddy wears hats.  He will wear it forward or backward depending on his mood.  But he's always aware of his hat.  Its darn cute!

3.  Nathan loves shoes.  He will go around the house and wear other people's shoes all the time.  He would prefer to wear his shoes all the time and never take them off.  But if he can get his hands on a pair of Kaylee's tap shoes, or Jaxton's soccer shoes, or Cooper's basketball shoes, or mommy's high heels, he will!

4.  He has a puppy dog named "Bear" that is very near and dear to his little heart.  He absolutely loves that thing.  I don't know what caused him to get attached to it, but somehow he did, and he won't let go of it.  He has to have it to sleep with.  He hugs and kisses it all day.  He carries it outside and gets mulch all over it and dirt, and hugs it all the more.  It is the sweetest thing.

5.  He doesn't have a lot of words to say, but he can say some.  He says "dah dah" for almost anything, including yogurt, backpack, and others.  He says "Ballaaah" for movie; "Kide" for outside; "Shhhuuuhh" for shoes; "Duhhh" for Bear; "Snaaaa" for snack; and "Muuuhhh" for milk. Nobody else in the world would be able to understand his commands but us.  He is super duper intelligent, and the words will come with time.

6.  Nathan hates nursery with a passion.  He cries his head off until he falls asleep if we leave him.  Even if we stay, he's crying his head off.  He just hates that place with all his heart.  We just don't know what will make him happy there.  None of the other kids have struggled as much as him.

7.  Nathan loves water.  He is utterly fearless and totally adventurous.  He dunks himself under, splashes with all his might, and has no fear of getting his eyes, nose, and mouth wet or filled with water.  Somehow he has already figured out how to hold his breath and not breath in when under.  If we let him, he'd just go attempt swimming.  He is a crazy one in the water!

8. His hair is flaming orange.  We don't know where it came from.  Grandma Great nicknames him "Red." And he and Jaxton share a special brotherly bond, probably because they share that red hair gene.

9.  Nathan loves to play basketball, tennis, soccer, baseball, any sport involving a ball.  He never tires of it.  He is quick and light on his feet.  He definitely will be a passionate athlete as he gets bigger, similar to his big brother Cooper.

10.  Nathan is extremely independent.  He will simply help himself when he wants or needs something.  If he wants a drink, he will find a cup, a stool, and fill it up.  If he's hungry, he will find a stool, a spoon, and open the fridge and get a yogurt and take it to the table.  If he knows its time to go, he goes to find a pair of socks and his shoes and gets up on the stool to brush his teeth.  He loves to sit on the potty for fun and just sits and sits and sits as if he is doing something big.  He is so independent, it is so fun to see him follow his brothers and sisters example in just about everything they do!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!  WE LOVE YOU LITTLE GUY!

Nathan Turns 2!!!

Nathan turned 2! I can hardly believe it.  He had a breakfast birthday party, complete with eggs and sausage and fruit and a giant cinnamon roll cake.  He knew he was the center of attention.  And he loved it!  We had the Owen family (Nate's sister's family) and Grandma & Grandpa from Kendallville there, along with cousin Jared & Asher.  What a fun morning!  Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Rest in Peace, Bella

Bella, our dog, passed away.  She got really really sick on a Friday or Saturday and showed symptoms of pain and uneasiness.  We thought she may be constipated because she couldn't seem to poop.  We decided to take her in to the vet, who did some x-rays and other tests to find no determining results.  They thought maybe she had digestive issues and gave us some special canned food to give her.  We were leaving for vacation to Holiday World, so we got her taken care of and sent her to Joan's house for a few days, explaining to Joan how sick she'd been.  Joan is wonderful and treated her so kindly.  She watched Bella deteriorate over the day and look so dreadfully in pain.  Joan said she hopped up on the couch with difficulty and curled up there.  After a while her breathing got very heavy, and Joan sat with her and said a prayer with her to be at peace.  Bella slipped away that night, a peaceful passing, though we don't know how much pain she really was in.

On returning from our trip, we collected Bella from the vet and dug her a grave in our woods on the property.  Nate had a little excavator.  As he dug, he hit a decent sized rock, a perfect size for her headstone.  What a coincidence.  Or not!  It was meant to be.  We buried her and will prepare her stone with her name and place it there when ready.

The boys were hit hard.  They loved Bella so much.  She was definitely challenging to take care of with such a big family, but even so, they loved her.  We all did.  The boys both cried themselves to sleep that first night they learned of her passing.  The burial helped with closure and we had a simple funeral for her, sharing the highlights of her life with us.  We know she is jumping high and playing fetch in heaven now.  We will never forget her.

Holiday World

For Bill and Linda's 50th Wedding Anniversary, all Nates siblings families gathered to Holiday World in Santa Clause, IN, a big water park and amusement park. We camped at Camp Rudolph in fancy air conditioned cabins all next to each other.  We spent dinners gathered together and had devotionals by the patriarch and matriarch of the Routsong family.  We celebrated with cake and sparkling cider and shared photos of the family old and young.  Beth put together a beautiful 12x12 photo book for their 50th with photos starting at the very beginning of Bill and Lindas story.  We all had such a fun time and bonded as a family.

Andrea & Dennis

Andrea & Dennis have moved away.  Dennis got a new job position in Arkansas and they are taking off.  Andrea has been such a blessing in our lives.  Their place in our lives was not a coincidence at all.  There are so many things about Andrea & Dennis that prove no coincidence in making our paths cross.  Two years ago when Nathan was born I was still working a ton at Simplx and I was overwhelmed and stressed and unsure how I would possibly be able to care for my newborn and my 4 other kids and continue serving the business and running payroll and doing taxes, etc, etc for the business.  We racked our brains to try to think of someone that could help watch the kids for us.  I didn't like the idea of having to have someone always watch my kids, or to have to take them somewhere to be watched.  I've always felt it my responsibility to care for them.  But I also had obligations to the business so I needed help.  We tossed around different names and even spoke to a few people.  

One day, Nate came home from work and said, "Hey, guess who is moving back to Fort Wayne?"  On Facebook, he had learned that Andrea & Dennis, who had lived here briefly before, were moving back.  Nate didn't make the connection right away, he just saw their post on Facebook and let me know about it.  But right then, I knew exactly who could help us.  I told Nate, "It's Andrea!"  and he didn't understand at first.  I said, "that is who needs to be with our kids!"  So we had them over and asked if she'd be willing and she was so excited.  They always wondered why they were coming back here, but Andrea says that she knows part of the reason they returned, was to serve our family.  Now, 2 years later, our kids think of Andrea & Dennis as a third set of grandparents.  They treat them like grandparents and the Keplingers treat my kids like their grandchildren.  Andrea treats me like her daughter; she worries about me and confides in me.  We have become such great friends.  I am so appreciative of her service in our home.  

Earlier this year when we found out we were expecting another baby, I realized that work is getting just too difficult.  The company has grown tremendously, causing my work to grow tremendously.  With another child on the way, my time and availability is shrinking tremendously.  We decided to begin seeking out a replacement for me at work to free me from all of my major responsibilities there.  We found a perfect match and began to move forward to hire her and train her.  During this process, Dennis lost his job.  The Keplingers were uncertain about their future and found possible jobs in other states.  After several interviews, he accepted one in Arkansas and they had to leave mid July.  

The timing is incredulous.  They arrived just in time to help us.  And they moved on just as our need for help diminished.  They are a light in my life.  An answer to prayers and I am certain that Heavenly Father put them in our lives for a reason and the specific time of our need.  I have learned so much from Andy and have confided in her like no other friend in my life.  She knows me and my family and our home better than anyone.  She shone as a light in my crazy complicated and busy world the past 2 years and I will never forget her.  Thank you Andy.